Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 3029 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the University of Hawaii to waive or reduce tuition fees for:

The Department of Defense and Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii testified in support of this bill. The Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association supported the bill with amendments. The University of Hawaii supported the intent of the measure.

Your Committee finds that the tuition assistance program for members of the Hawaii National Guard and federal military reserves is an important benefit that is essential to military recruitment and retention and that the proposed tuition waivers recognize the hardships faced by members when activated for deployment. Your Committee also finds that, currently, National Guardsmen who are recruited from the mainland are not granted resident status for tuition purposes until they have been residing in Hawaii for twelve months.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3029, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3029, H.D. 1.